Half to cornelius s



(No Model.)

F D. FORD.

BARBED WIRE FENGB. No. 311,426. Patented Jan. 27, 1885.

Wjjlneases. jw/ v/ewfloac rauislz'ze/fllonl UNITED STATES PATENT EETCE.

FRANKLIN D. FORD, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF 'IO CORNELIUS S. SWEETLAND, OF SAME PLACE.

BARBED-WIRE FENCE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,426, dated January 2'7 1885.

' Application filed May 19, 1884. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

.Be it known that I, FRANKLIN D. FoED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, Rhode Island, have invented new and 5 useful Improvements in Barbed-Wire Fences,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of barbed fence-wires in which single strands having bends or offsets serve to retain wire barbs; and the invention consists in a novel construction of such barbs, whereby their end terminals or prongs are brought out of line with each other, while their intermediate portions are tightly and closely coiled around a r 5 straight portion of the fence-wire located between offsets or bends, theend portions of the barb being twisted around said offsets and projecting as prongs at right angles therefrom.

In the drawing the figure is a perspective view showing my improved method of constructing and applying barbs to fencewires.

In a wire, 1, such as is commonly employed in the formation of wire fences, I make at suitable intervals apart two offsets or bends, 2, between which is located a straight portion, 3. fence-wire shaped in this manner I apply barbs which have two prongs or points, 4, that are arranged out of line with each other and extend from the fence-wire at the bonds or offsets made therein. Each barb is formed of a pointed piece of wire, of appropriate size and length, that is coiled or wound around the straight portion 3 of the fence-wire, and has 5 its end portions twisted or bent around the offsets in the fence-wire, from which points the wire forming the barb projects in opposite directions from the fence-wire and constitutes the prongs of the barb, as will readily 0 be apparent. The coils of the barb extend in a nearly straight direction around the fence-wire, and lie in close contact with each other, so as to firmly and securely clasp the fence-wire. Beyond the coiled portion 6 of 5 the barb the end portions of the wire forming the same are bent or twisted around the offsets in the fence-wire, as is shown at 7, and then made to project as prongs,in the manner already explained.

It will be manifest that barbs applied to fence-wires in accordance with my invention are prevented from turning or rotating by the closely coiled body or main portion, and that the end portions, twisted around the offsets in the main wire, will effectually guard 5 against the longitudinal movement or endwise displacement of the barbs. In fact, it may be said that I combine simplicity and cheapness of construction with great strength and rigidity, the barbs being virtually im- 6o movable on the fence-wire after they have extremity of the bend therein, and which are connected together'by the middle portion of the barb, lying in the hollow of said bend, the points of the barb projecting from near the extremities of the bend. I make no claim to such formation, and confine myself to the construction herein set forth, whereby I obtain greater strength and avoid the possibility of the barbs becoming loose on the fence-wire should cattle run against the same,

it being obvious that in such a contingency the barbs in my case will simply be bent without becoming loose on the fence-wire.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

The combination of the fence-wire provided with short bends or offsets 2, and with a straight connecting portion, 3, between said offsets, with a barb formed of a piece of wire 0 having its end portions, 4, bent at right angles to the fence-wire and twisted around the offsets and having its middle portion formed into closely-lying coils that are wound tightly on the. straight connecting portion between the offsets, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANKLIN D. FORD.

Witnesses:

GEO. W. LANPHEAR, EDWARD H. BRIGGS. 

